JULIAN ELECTION SET FOR MARCH 19 TO VOTE ON SAVING FIRE DISTRICT

New members to replace no-shows on fire board at Dec. 11 meeting

By Miriam Raftery

November 20, 2018 (Julian) – A special election will be held in the Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District (JCFPD) on March 19 for voters to decide whether to save the county’s last volunteer firefighting district. If over 50% of voters vote yes on the citizens’ initiative, it will reverse the county’s Local Agency Formation District vote that had approved dissolving the district and having the County Fire Authority/Cal Fire takeover all firefighting duties.

The action comes after Julian residents invoked their right to protest the LAFCO takeover, securing signatures from 26% of district voters to force a public vote on the takeover.

A November 13th meeting of the JCFPD board of directors was cancelled after board members Jack Shelver, Aida Tucker and Kirsten Stalin failed to show up.

There were a dozen citizens and two reps from LAFCO who came to present protest petition outcome,” Pat Landis, a supporter of keeping the district independent,told ECM. “All set up and ready to go…. The Cal Fire Chief and Secretary gave no indication they had heard from these three board members. Waited 15 minutes and then the meeting was canceled because there was not a quorum.”

The three no-show board members did not seek reelection, but two new board members were elected: Mike Menghini and Eva Hatch as well as Landis.

“We have an agenda and will seat and run the December 11 Board meeting,” Landis told ECM.  “We have lots of plans and are optimistic,” she said, adding, “Lots will happen before then to motivate the community to support JCFPD.”

The Dec. 11 meeting is at 10 a.m. at the Julian Fire Station 56, 3407 Hwy. 79.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly listed the election date as March 11. It is March 19.